For the last 40 years, Colombia has been plagued with a bloody civil war between security forces and paramilitaries against guerrilla groups. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed by both sides and thousands more have disappeared or were abducted. Between three and four million people were forced to flee their homes.
The impact of this ongoing conflict has been particularly destructive for the indigenous peoples of Colombia, according to Amnesty International and the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC). These organizations claim that at least 114 indigenous women, men and children were killed in 2009.
Guerrilla and Army Responsible
The Director of the Colombia Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights supports the claim of these human rights organizations stating that, although the guerrilla groups, in particular the FARC, were responsible for most of the killings, all parties have been responsible for repeated human rights abuses against indigenous peoples.
In February 2009, 15 including two pregnant women from the Awa tribe were massacred by the FARC. In August 2009, 12 from the same tribe lost their lives during an attack on their community by gunmen wearing military uniforms. Both sides have repeatedly blocked access to food and essential medicines and have occupied schools to use them as military bases, thus denying the most basic rights to these indigenous communities.
Forcibly Recruited
The indigenous communities have continuously refused to be involved in the conflict but in particular the groups living in areas of strategic importance have been threatened, harassed and driven from their land by all parties to the conflict.
They are forced to act as guides or informants because of their extensive knowledge of the area. Although the UN Special Rapporteur on indigenous issues has repeatedly called on the armed groups to end this, they continue to forcibly recruit men, women and even children, Amnesty International and ONIC report.
Stigmatization of Indigenous Communities
According to ONIC, the lack of action against these human rights abuses in Colombia is partly due to the continued statements of government officials linking indigenous people with guerrilla groups. This was confirmed by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination who concluded in its 2009 report on Colombia that “while illegal armed groups bear significant responsibility for violations, reports continue to indicate the direct involvement or collusion of state agents in such acts and that members of the armed forces have publicly stigmatized Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities.”
Colombia has one of the most diverse indigenous populations. According to a 2005 census, the 1.4 million indigenous people belong to more than 85 distinct groups. Indigenous groups make up 3.4 percent of the total population. According to ONIC, at least 32 groups are at present at risk of extinction. This is partly due to the long-lasting armed conflict, but also to the large-scale economic projects and the lack of state support for the indigenous communities, ONIC says.
Land Confiscation
“The government’s search for investment and extraction of natural resources implies the proliferation of mining concessions and infrastructural large-scale economic projects or “mega-projects”; the expansion of agricultural boundaries for industrial cash crops; and the legalization of violent expropriations committed by armed actors.” ONIC claims that 80 percent of indigenous territories have been claimed for the implementation of economic projects without consultation of the local communities.
The Colombian government does not fulfill its duties towards its indigenous citizens, say Amnesty and ONIC. 32.4 percent of the indigenous population is not covered by healthcare, resulting in a high death rate among indigenous children.
Education in remote areas is of poor quality and the level of illiteracy and dropouts in indigenous communities continues to be high. The lack of state support for indigenous issues was illustrated by Colombia’s abstention in the voting of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People in the United Nations, claim indigenous advocates.
Genocide
The situation has now arrived to the point that the Special UN Rapporteur on indigenous issues has called on the Colombian government to invite a UN special adviser on prevention of genocide to monitor the situation of Colombia’s disappearing cultures.
Sources:
Amnesty International. 2010. The Struggle for Survival and Dignity. Human Rights Abuses Against Indigenous Peoples in Colombia.
National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC). 2010. Testimony.
United Nations. 2010. Report of Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People on His Visit to Colombia.
Natalie Lefevre - Natalie Lefevre has lived in several places around the world but now lives and writes from her home country, Belgium. Her expertise is in ...
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